NEW EDUCATION BILL

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1933, Page 3

NEW EDUCATION BILL

ENTRY OF SIX-YEAR-OLDS CONTROL OF TEACHERS. NEW TRANSFER PROVISIONS. Wellington, Feb. 11. The control of teachers and school administration are affected by the Education Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives by Governor-General’s message yesterday morning. The Bill contains the promised permission for children attaining the age of six during any school term to be enrolled at the beginning of that term. The enrolment of these children may be made during the first four weeks of the term in which they may reach the minimum permissive age of entry. The Bill was read a first time.

Transfers of teachers may be in future made from one education district to another, and the Director of Education will from time to time notify all boards throughout the country of the names and justification of teachers who are eligible for transfer. Transfers may be made where a teacher is receiving a salaryhigher ’tlian that of tire grade of salary pertaining to the position occupied by him, where a teacher through no fault of his own has lost his position, or where he has suffered a reduction in salary. Boards may also insist on transfers if it is considered that they are warranted to effect efficient conduct of a school. Teachers retain the right to apply for transfers.

In making an appointment by transfer or otherwise, a board may, on the recommendation of the Senior Inspector, give preference to the teacher who appears best fitted for the position among those applicants who have served for not less than two years in remote districts or in schools with an average attendance of 120. A board may refuse to appoint a female married teacher except in the case of one who has completed her training college course, but not her term of service required by the regulations. If at any time the grade of salary attached to a position is raised, the teacher occupying that position shall not be entitled to claim a rise in salary unless the board and senior inspector decide that he shall be retained in the position. Should the board and Senior Inspector fail to agree, the question shall be referred to the Minister for final decision. If a teacher applies for a position, and subsequently refuses it when it is offered to him, he shall not be eligible for appointment to another position in the service of any board for a year, unless the Director of Education considers he had a valid reason for declining the offer. INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS. The establishment of intermediate schools is provided for, and the regulations governing administration are altered slightly so that they shall fit in with the education system as a whole. The Minister may either establish an intermediate school, whose function shall be much the same as the old junior high i schools, or an intermediate department of a secondary school, technical school, combined school or district high school. These intermediate schools or departments may be placed under the control of education boards or the body controlling the school in which a separate department is established. x The Kowhai Junior High School, Auckland, will become an. intermediate school, and all other junior high schools will become intermediate departments of the schools to which they are attached! BOARD MEMBERS’ EXPENSES. Another clause provides for the payment of expenses incurred by the managers of technical schools in attending board meetings or otherwise attending to the business of the board. This places these board members on the same footing as members of secondary school boards.

Power is given to the Minister to establish teachers’ training colleges to provide for the better education and training of teachers, and he may also disestablish training colleges. Where a college is dis-established, the land, buildings and equipment shall be vested in the Crown and. they , may be used for educational or other purposes as stipulated by Order-in-Council.

The parent of any child who after special examination is deemed by the director to require tuition in classes for subnormal children, may be compelled to enrol the child in these' classes. Where the accommodation available at any secondary school, technical school or combined school is not. sufficient for all the children qualified for free places and applying for admission, the ..Minister , may direct the governing body to restrict the admission of pupils. No pupil will be excluded, however, unless there is adequate and reasonably convenient accommodation at another school. The final, clause of the Bill enables the Mayor of Wellington to decline member-, ship of the Board of Governors of Wellington College and Girls’ High School, and enables another member of the City Council to be appointed as a governor.